Lucid Dreaming. Chaos Magick. Intent & Will. Conjuring A Creator.Evolution is individual and can be a matter of choice. How will you learn to BE immortal so that you may BECOME immortal? This is the riddle where it all begins.

Proper is yet another consensus derivative. There is no such thing as proper. Remember that the meditation positions, too, were invented by humans. You can make out your own by realizing that nothing is set in stone.

Conquistador wrote:Would it be improper to lean against walls & other objects while meditating? Because when I try to do it without sitting against something, I feel discomfort in my legs & it requires me to hold my back up straight

The traditional meditative stance doesn't work for everybody. I tend to prefer half-lotus or simply cross-legged for my meditations, mainly because a more relaxed posture can lead to nodding off. Heh. Try this: do what feels comfortable one night, then the following night try to work a bit more with the traditional postures - only because keeping your back straight allows the body's natural chi to move more freely through the 7 chakras (if one believes in chakras, that is). Eventually you will find a position that is right and unique to you.

I like the quarter lotus, my legs are to short for the half lotus n full lotus. But what do you recommend I do about the pain when straightening the back?just try my best to deal? And chakras is just a religious belief, because we glean our energy through the universe, not "centers" in our body correct?

Conquistador wrote:And chakras is just a religious belief, because we glean our energy through the universe, not "centers" in our body correct?

Chakras are, as you said, centers of energy. They can or cannot be depending on your view. The question is - do you want to centralize your energy in spots on your body, or not. Sometimes they are useful, sometimes not. Your call.

"Nothing is true. Everything is permitted." ―Rashid ad Din Sinan

“All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.” ―Edgar Allan Poe

Conquistador wrote:Would it be improper to lean against walls & other objects while meditating? Because when I try to do it without sitting against something, I feel discomfort in my legs & it requires me to hold my back up straight

The traditional meditative stance doesn't work for everybody. I tend to prefer half-lotus or simply cross-legged for my meditations, mainly because a more relaxed posture can lead to nodding off. Heh. Try this: do what feels comfortable one night, then the following night try to work a bit more with the traditional postures - only because keeping your back straight allows the body's natural chi to move more freely through the 7 chakras (if one believes in chakras, that is). Eventually you will find a position that is right and unique to you.

I like the quarter lotus, my legs are to short for the half lotus n full lotus. But what do you recommend I do about the pain when straightening the back?just try my best to deal? And chakras is just a religious belief, because we glean our energy through the universe, not "centers" in our body correct?

Just a brief history of time as it applies to meditative positions. There is no right or wrong - so you will want to experiment until you find something that works for you and your body type. With regard to traditional positions, most evolved over centuries and while others may not agree, I have personally found some benefit to the cross-legged, straight-back approach - mainly that it seems to encourage mental alertness whereas other positions are more likely to encourage sleepiness. That, however, could be my personal predilection. The bottom line is that you need to find a position that is comfortable without being so comfortable it puts you to sleep.

As for chakras... not precisely a religious belief, but more related to eastern and ayurvedic medicine, and energy meridians running throughout the body. Unfortunately, a lot of new age practitioners have created a lot of mumbo jumbo around "chakras" without really understanding what they really are. In essence, chakras are like energetic portals to various quadrants of the organic form. However, once the seeker starts to fully resonate with the Knowledge that the body is energy first, organic second... the importance of chakras tends to diminish.

Conquistador wrote:Nevermind, I really don't even know what they are. On YouTube people would be talking about sensestamps. Supposably they help with meditating but I don't really know

The only thing that helps with meditating is meditating.

If you are working with meditative contemplationg (thinking about "something" as opposed to experiencing the silence of Knowing), it can be helpful to have an idea that stirs your imagination. For example, I often meditate (contemplate) on the unreality of Time, combined with the first law of metaphysics, w hich states, "Nothing unreal exists."

Such is the nature of duality. Contemplation allows the seeker to take something further than where s/he found it - which is the foundation of all true evolution.

I may be misunderstanding here, but why is "falling asleep" during a meditation session "negative"? I do not view it that way, because there are times this has "happened" to me..,I recieve some of my most life altering "revelations" in this "in/out" stream of conciousness.

I focus on a desired "goal", undetstanding that "goals" are pointless, only "signposts". Sometimes Complete Silence "takes over" and all I do is Listen. All this position stuff is hogwash...trust me. Another form of control, a "religion" like all others. There are Exceptions to every *rule*, because there are no rules! Ive never been physically able to contort my body into that framework...let it go. The most important thing is development of Spirit, yet since all of "eternity" is at your disposal, none of it really matters. The Path requires dedication. Once you have resolved that matter in your own heart, "Time", "Space", "Death", "Life" become mere words.

People study Martial Arts to develop certian aspects of Self.

The western mind focuses on the black belt. Go buy a black belt, tie it around your waist, look in the mirror. If the image you see causes doubt, keep meditating. Soon you will come to realize that a belt is good for nothing but holding pants up.

If someone took away your belt, could they take the Knowledge you gained from years of self-dicipline and training? NO.

If a "teacher" sells you a belt, gives you a certificate because you spent money on his dojo, does this make you able to conquer your own fear and act in the most beneficial manner at a required instance? I would venture to say NO.

Does the colour of a belt mean anything?

The True Martial Artist takes responsibility for his own growth.So I find it with this path. All of us are different.

It doesn't matter how one meditates.

Meditate.

The rest will take care of itself.

RZC

"What you cannot find within you will not find without, for your fear is more AFRAID of YOU than you are of it" RZC.

" I hate the thought of killing anything, it's the last thing I would advise. But when it comes to the matter of Survival, all creatures are fair game" Les Stroud.